UN condemns forced arrests and disappearances in Ukraine | world and science

Russian forces began invading Ukraine on February 24France Press agency

Posted on 03/25/2022 14:12

GENEVA – Dozens of Ukrainian officials, journalists and activists have been arbitrarily detained by Russian forces that invaded Ukraine, or are missing – the United Nations denounced on Friday (25), noting that some cases resembled “hostage taking”.

In just over a month since the start of the offensive ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has collected information about the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of 22 local Ukrainian officials. Of those, 13 were later released.

Perhaps the most famous case is that of Ivan Fedorov, mayor of the city of Melitopol, in southeastern Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian authorities, he was kidnapped by Russian forces and held for several days before his release.

“This appears to be a ‘way of action’ in the areas occupied by Russia,” Matilda Bogner, the representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine, said in a video conference.

“In some cases, this appears to be a form of hostage taking,” he added, adding that family members were not informed of where the prisoners were taken.

It highlighted the arrest of 15 journalists and activists who “strongly opposed the invasion” in different parts of the country.

“It appears that the targets are pro-Ukrainian militants, or that Russian forces consider them pro-Ukrainian,” he added.

Matilda noted that UN staff are trying to verify information about five journalists and three activists who may have been released, but that “the fate of the rest is still unknown.”